Apparatus for electrical connection of glove monitor to patient

ABSTRACT

Apparatus for electrically, detachably attaching a monitor such as a glove monitor between a health care worker and a patient utilizing a particular magnetic, electrical connection so that the health care worker can easily connect and disconnect from electrical connection to the patient for movement about the room or elsewhere.

SPECIFICATION

Cross-referenced to related applications.

This application is a continuation-in-part of U.S. patent applicationSer. No. 08/277,984, now U.S. Pat. No. 5,389,097, entitled "EnhancedMonitoring Device for Surgical Gloves and Other Barriers" having afiling date of Jun. 22, 1994, which is a continuation of Ser. No.07/846,539, filed Mar. 4, 1992, abandoned, which is acontinuation-in-part of Ser. No. 07/528,926, filed May 25, 1990, U.S.Pat. No. 5,114,425.

FIELD OF THE INVENTION

The field of this invention relates to apparatus for the enhancement ofelectrical connection to patients of doctors, dentists and other healthcare workers in order to detect holes or other aberrations in barrierssuch as latex gloves.

BACKGROUND OF THE INVENTION

The adulteration of critical use articles such as surgical gloves andcondoms poses considerable health risks. Adulteration as used herein isintended to encompass conditions such as holes formed during themanufacture of an article such as a surgical glove as well as holesformed thereafter for any reason, which holes may provide a path foradulteration of the article by potential dangerous fluids such as bodyfluids. The term "holes" or "perforations" include not only holescapable of initially passing fluid but also incipient holes, which mayinitially be too small to pass amounts of fluid but may enlarge overtime, or otherwise breach or deteriorate the integrity of the barrierposed by the article. Such holes may even form a danger before reachinga size large enough to pass actual fluid since bacteria maytheoretically pass through even smaller openings.

One example of a critical use article is the surgical glove. Whileproblems with surgical gloves will be described shortly, it should beunderstood that similar problems may be present in any other type ofbarrier such as condoms, surgical gowns, surgical drapes and the like.The adulteration of gloves used in surgery has long been a problem tothe medical doctor or other health care worker. There are two commonsources for the creation of holes or perforations in surgical glovesprior and during use. One source is the manufacturer, who, due to lackof quality control or inherent manufacturing problems, may manufactureand sell gloves which already have perforations. In about 1990, theFederal Food and Drug Administration determined by field inspectionfailure rates of three to sixteen percent in surgical gloves prior touse. The FDA further found that, for patient-examination gloves, averagedefect rates ranged from 14-18%. In a recent attempt to tighten qualitycontrol in surgical gloves, the FDA resorted to its own modification ofthe well-known and fundamental A.S.T.M. technique for determiningdefects in gloves--a water fill test.

The second source of holes or perforations in gloves occurs during use.For example, holes or dangerously thin spots may develop in gloves atthe time that the surgeon first fits the gloves over his or her hands,or, a glove may be perforated during surgery. Perforations during asurgery can occur because of penetration by sharp objects or because ofthe breaking down of inherently thin spots in the gloves or areas madethin as a result of putting the glove on the hand or manipulatinginstruments.

Perforations expose a surgeon to actual or possible contact with patientbody fluids because of the resulting adulteration of the gloves. Whilesuch adulteration has always been a possible source of infection or thespreading of bacteria to the surgeon or from the surgeon to the patient,the alarming spread of hepatitis and AIDS viruses has created an evenmore serious problem--the possible spread of an incurable disease fromthe patient to the surgeon or from the surgeon to the patient.Therefore, the need for accurate and immediate detection of actual ornear adulteration in surgical gloves is now at a heightened levelbecause of the potential for the spread of incurable diseases frompatient to surgeon or surgeon to patient.

The problems with the AIDS virus is not limited, however, to surgeons orother persons in the operating room such a nurses and anesthesiologists.For example, it is possible that other users of critical use gloves suchas dentists or paramedics may be subject to many of the same seriousconcerns because the dentist or paramedic is also exposed to body fluidsduring his or her work on a patient. While perhaps less likely, there isalso some possibility for the spread of serious diseases from patientsto doctors during physical examinations. For purposes of definition,doctors, dentists, nurses and others who may be exposed to diseasethrough gloves or other barriers are defined herein as "health careworkers." It is also noted that the problem of communication of adisease between persons due to adulteration of a material acting as abarrier between the persons is not limited to surgical gloves but otherarticles such as surgical gowns, masks and condoms prevent similarproblems.

While the FDA has taken the approach of using the rudimentary water fillmethod to determine leaks in gloves as manufactured, such simpletechniques cannot be used to detect adulteration in gloves during use.There have been some attempts in the prior art to detect the occurrenceof perforations in surgical gloves after the gloves are on the doctor'shands, all of which use resistance level detection as the parameter todetect holes. Such level detection concepts have been known for severaldecades and recently, there have been further attempts at modestimprovement on such detection mechanisms, all of which continue to relyon resistance level detection as the principal parameter to be measured.

U.S. Pat. No. 4,321,925 of John Hoborn and Ulrich Krebbs discloses anelectronic detector arranged so that the level of electronicconductivity through the gloves and between the patient and surgeon maybe sensed at regularly recurring discrete time intervals in order tomeasure a predetermined level of sensed conductivity and signal an alarmif such predetermined level is met. The detecting circuit of the '925patent is actually located in one of the shoes of the surgeon andincludes one contact located in the insole of the shoe in order to makeelectrical contact with the surgeon and a second contact exposed to anelectrical conducting plate located on the floor of the operating roomso that a closed circuit is formed between the operating table, thepatient, the doctor, the electrical device located in the shoe and theround conducting element or plate located on the floor of the operatingroom. The '925 patent teaches that five times per second the disclosedcircuit short-circuits the contacts in the insole and in the bottom ofthe sole of the shoe in order to discharge static electricity from theinsole contact which may have accumulated from the doctor. After eachshort circuit, the circuit is opened between the two contacts and avoltage level sensor is used to detect the level of electricalconductivity which occurs externally between the contacts.

The impedance of the latex or rubber that comprises surgical gloves ishigh. If there is a perforation in the operating gloves of the surgeon,which fills with body or other electrically conducting fluid, theimpedance is thereby reduced and a greater conductivity is provided bythe gloves. The '925 patent teaches that the occurrence of a perforationin the operating gloves may result in a relatively high electricconductivity between the surgeon and patient, thus allowing the sensingdevice to sound an alarm upon the occurrence of a predetermined level ofsensed conductivity. Setting of the appropriate level of conductivity isstrictly a matter of design and thus it is believed that one drawback tothe device of the '925 patent is that the level of conductivity requiredto trigger the alarm may differ from glove to glove, depending upon thenature of the material, the thickness of the material and any otherfactors which may impact upon the general conductivity of the seriescircuit, which includes not only the doctor and patient, but also thedoctor's shoes, a round plate located on the operating floor, and theoperating table itself. Therefore, the '925 patent may work fairly wellfor certain types of gloves whose characteristics conform to theparticular resistance level chosen for the resistance level sensor, butthe '925 patent may not work well with many other types of gloves. Inorder to function properly, the resistance level sensor of the '925patent would have to be adjusted to some pre-determined level dependingupon the type of glove used and could even further require additionallevel adjustments during the period in which the glove is used.

Perhaps more importantly, the tendency of latex to absorb fluid duringuse is a factor not solved by the '925 Hoborn patent and other similarresistance level detection devices. Most natural rubber latex glovesabsorb considerable quantities of water with time, referred to ashydration. This hydration effect causes the conductivity of the glove toincrease markedly, thus decreasing its resistance. Eventually, theelectrical resistance of the gloves becomes as low as a glove with ahole in it. Thus, for many types of surgeons, gloves, devices like thatshown in the '925 patent will eventually give a hole alarm when there isno perforation. Therefore, the fact that the absolute conductivity of aglove varies with the hydration of the glove material detracts from theeffectiveness of the sensor of the '925 device. There are other patentswhich disclose level detection type devices which are believed to havedisadvantages similar to the '925 patent, such as U.S. Pat. Nos.4,956,635 of Langdon and 5,036,309 of Dennison.

Other prior art devices include several devices that utilize a basin ofconductive fluid in which the surgeon places his or her gloved hands forthe purposes of determining whether or not the gloves have becomeadulterated. See U.S. Pat. Nos. 2,981,886 of Beck; 4,810,971 of Marable;4,909,069 of Albin; and 4,956,635 of Langdon. If the conductive fluid inthe basin enters a gloved hand or comes in contact with body fluidalready in the adulterated glove, increased conductivity is detected.Other devices and relevant prior art will be discussed in appropriatesubmitted Information Disclosure Statements.

One solution to this problem is found in U.S. Pat. Nos. 5,144,425 ofRobert E. Williams, William H. Marshall, Robert B. Stout and John J.McCourt, Jr., entitled "Method and Apparatus for Detecting Actual orLikely Adulteration of Critical Use Gloves." The '425 patent ofWilliams, et al. was issued on May 19, 1992 and discloses apparatus andmethod for detecting adulteration or a condition of near-adulteration ofa glove in critical use application such as surgery where the gloves areworn by the surgeon and are exposed to the body fluids of a patient. Theapparatus and method include a detection not only of a particular levelof conductivity but also detection of a sudden change in conductivitywhich may be caused by a sudden change in condition of the glove, suchas the opening of a hole in the glove or a sudden thinning of a glove.In this manner, the apparatus and method detect not only the actualcondition of the glove but also a condition of change of the glove.

Following the same concept, but improving thereon, is U.S. patentapplication Ser. No. 07/846,539 the parent application to thisapplication, entitled "Enhanced Monitor Device for Surgical Gloves andOther Barriers" filed on Mar. 4, 1992. In this patent application, aneven newer and more improved monitoring device for detection of holes ingloves and other barriers is disclosed. The monitoring device canreliably monitor the integrity of gloves for an extended period and issuitable for use with a number of different glove-types from differentglove manufacturers. The monitoring device is a programmable,configurable and self-adapting device which continuously measures theresistance, the rate of change or first derivative of resistance and therate of the rate of change or second derivative of resistance across thegloves worn by the health care worker and a circuit comprised of thepatient, health care worker and the gloves. The device distinguishesbetween sudden or rapid, transient change in resistance caused by a holeor puncture in the glove and a more gradual and/or continuous change inresistance caused by normal glove hydration. With the use of either themonitor of U.S. patent application Ser. No. 5,144,425 or the monitor ofU.S. patent application Ser. No. 07/846,539, it is necessary that aconvenient but highly reliable electrical connection be made between thedoctor and patient so that the necessary electrical circuit can becompleted upon the occurrence of a hole or other adulteration oraberration in the glove or other barrier. One such electrical connectionis described with respect to the Hoborn '925 patent. However, suchdevice requires the wearing of special shoes and the equipping of theoperating room with a special conducting plate, which creates not onlyadditional capital expense but also certainly additional maintenanceexpense.

It is desirable that an efficient, highly reliable but convenientelectrical connection be made between the health care worker such as adoctor or dentist and the patient. Factors which cause this problem tobe difficult to solve include the fact that the doctor, such as asurgeon during an operation, needs to be mobile. Therefore, the surgeoncannot be fixed to an operating table by some semi-permanent electricalconnection which would prevent the surgeon from moving about theoperating table or moving to another location to check an instrument,review x-rays or the like. Similarly, other health care workers such asdentists need to be able to move freely around a patient and within anoffice in order to organize equipment and be positioned properly forworking on the patient.

SUMMARY OF THE INVENTION

It is an object of this invention to provide a system for electricalconnection for health care workers which is easy to set up and attachand detach during actual use so that the health care worker such as asurgeon or dentist may be free to move about the patient or operatingroom as necessary.

Apparatus is provided for detachably, electrically connecting a monitorto detect holes or other anomalies in gloves or other barriers between apatient and health care worker. The apparatus includes a monitor forelectrical attachment to a health care worker, the monitor beingattached to the health care worker and including a first electricalconductor extending from the monitor to the health care worker. Themonitor further includes a second, detachable electrical connection. Thedetachable electrical connection includes an electrical conductor havinga first end connection electrically attached to the monitor and a secondend terminating in a ferro-magnetic element in the form of a metallicdisk, the magnetic element being electrically connectable to anddetachable from an electrically conductive magnetic element. Theelectrically conductive magnetic element is attached to a patient'ssupport member such as an operating table. The electrically conductivemagnetic element includes an electrical connection extending between theelectrical conductive magnetic element and a patient.

Utilizing this combination of elements, whenever the health care workerdesires to electrically attach to the patient, the health care workerguides the monitor's second electrical conductor and the ferromagneticend portion into electrical contact with the electrically conductivemagnetic element attached to the patient support member. Theelectrically conductive element being magnetic, magnetically draws orpulls the ferro-magnetic element at the end of the second electricalconnector into electrical connection when the ferro-magnetic element ispositioned in proximity to the electrically conductive magnetic element.The electrical connection formed between the second electrical conductorextending from the monitor and the electrically conductive magneticelement is detachable so that the health care worker may move out ofrange of the second electrical conductor by merely pulling on theelectrical conductor thereby detaching the magnetic connection betweenthe ferro-magnetic element and the electrically conductive, magneticelement attached to the patient support member.

In another preferred embodiment of this invention, the monitor fordetermining holes or other anomalies in gloves may be mounted on apatient support member and include a first electrical conductorextending from the monitor to the patient and a second electricalconductor extending to an electrically conductive magnetic element alsoattached to the patient support member. The health care worker such as adentist has a third conductor extending between attachment to thedentist and terminating a ferro-magnetic end portion which can be drawninto electrical connection with the electrically conductive magneticelement attached to the patient support member.

In another embodiment of this invention, the principle of the "slapbracelet" is adapted to be utilized as a quick connect and disconnect toa patient or other object so that immediate electrical contact may bemade. In this embodiment, a thin piece of spring steel may be platedwith silver and silver chloride and covered with a cloth impregnatedwith a conductive gel, such a sodium chloride. When the bracelet is inuse, the tension in the spring steel maintains the required electricalcontact.

The previous description has been merely a summary of the inventionsdescribed in this patent application and is not intended to describe theexact scope of patent protection.

BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF THE DRAWINGS

FIG. 1 is an overall view of the apparatus of this invention providing adetachable connection between a health care worker and patient;

FIG. 2 is an overall view of the apparatus of this invention providing adetachable connection between the health care worker a sterile testingbasin;

FIG. 3 is a schematic view illustrating an electronic alarm attachableto the electrically conductive magnetic element to sound an alarm in theevent of electrical detachment by a ferro-magnetic member which iselectrically connected to the monitor and health care worker;

FIG. 3A is a side view in section taken along line 3A--3A of FIG. 2 ofthe composite magnetic, electrically conducting strips which provide thedetachable connection between the health care worker and the patient;

FIG. 4 is a schematic view of a second embodiment of the electronicalarm containing an additional feature to prevent dangerous feedbackvoltage;

FIG. 5 is a schematic flow chart of the software for each of the alarmscircuits of FIGS. 3 and 4;

FIG. 6 is a perspective view of the coilable electric connector whichmay be utilized in this invention;

FIG. 7 is a side view illustrating the coilable electrical connector inthe coiled position in electrical connection to the appendage of apatient;

FIG. 8 is a side view of the coilable electrical connector in a fullycoiled position of non-use;

FIG. 9 is a side view of another preferred embodiment of this inventionillustrating the detachable electrical connection between a health careworker such as a dentist and patient;

FIG. 10 is a an alternate, preferred embodiment to the embodiment ofFIG. 6 for electrical connection of a health care worker such as adentist to a patient; and

FIG. 11 is a side view and section illustrating a disposable salivaejector which is also capable of providing an electrical connection tothe patient of a dentist.

DETAILED DESCRIPTION OF PREFERRED EMBODIMENT

Referring to the drawings and particularly FIG. 1, an apparatus A isprovided for temporary attachment of a glove monitor M between thesurgeon S and a patient P. It should be understood that while FIG. 1illustrates a surgeon, that any other type of health care worker aspreviously defined may utilize the apparatus of this invention. Themonitor M is a Glove Monitor of the type disclosed in U.S. Pat. No.5,144,425, or as described in U.S. patent application Ser. No.07/846,539, now co-pending, and which is a parent to this patentapplication. The apparatus A of this invention may also be utilized withother types of patient to health care worker monitors. As illustrated inFIG. 1 and other figures of the drawings, the glove monitor M isrepresented as a generally rectangular, small box or housing thatincludes the necessary hardware and software to detect electricalconductivity and changes therein across a barrier such as the gloves Gworn by the surgeon S as illustrated in FIG. 1.

The glove monitor M includes a first electrical conductor 10 whichterminates in any suitably known electrical connection, such as a EKGpatch 11, which is adhered to the body of the surgeon S in order toestablish electrical connection between the monitor M and the surgeon S.

The monitor M includes a second electrical conductor 12 which extendsbetween the monitor and an electrically conductive, magnetic elementgenerally designated as 14 which is attached to the base 15 of anoperating table (which is hidden from view by the patient drape D). Thesecond electrical conductor 12 includes an electrical conductive wirelead which includes a first electrical connection between the monitor Mand the wire lead such as through utilization of an input jack (notshown but well known in the art). The wire lead 12 includes a generallystraight, flexible portion 12a and a coiled segment 12b to allow thesurgeon S to move about the operating table without detaching the secondlead 12 from electrical connection to the magnetic electrical connector14. The electrical lead 12 terminates in a disk 12c made of aferro-magnetic material. The disk 12c, as illustrated in FIGS. 1 and 2,is a circular disk of a thin ferromagnetic material which may easily bemaneuvered by the surgeon into electrical connection with the magneticelectrical connector 14. The disc 12c may be made of other suitablematerial in which a magnetic field can be induced and which iselectrically conductive.

Referring to FIG. 1, the magnetic electrical connector 14 is anelectrically conductive magnetic strip which is attached to the base 15of the operating table by any suitable means. The electricallyconductive magnetic strip 14 may be a generally rectangular strip asillustrated in FIG. 1, approximately 1/8" in thickness and may contain abarium ferrite powder suspended in a rubber or plastic matrix in orderto provide an attracting magnetic field. A suitable thin electricallyconductive outer strip is attached to the magnetic strip such that thecombination is both magnetic and electrically conductive. Such magneticmaterials are well-known and readily available from companies such asMag-Tech of Cincinnati, Ohio.

The combination of the ferro-magnetic disk 12c and the magnetic,electrical connector 14 provide a detachable electrical connectionbetween the second electrical conductor 12 leading from the glovemonitor M and the strip 14. The electrical circuit created is to be selfclosing when the ferro-magnetic disk is placed in close proximity to themagnetic strip 14. Further, the force required to disconnect the twomembers is important. If the holding force is too small, the connectingmembers will accidentally disconnect as the surgeon moves normally aboutduring an operation. If the holding force is too great, the coiled wiresection 12b of the second electrical conductor 12 can be extended to itslimit before the members disengage. This may put an excessive pull forceon the surgeon's pants and may also cause the ferro-magnetic disk torelease with great velocity and possibly get entangled in other nearbywires, stands, medical tubing, and the like.

It has been found from practical experimentation in the operating roomthat a holding force should be preferably 9 plus or minus 7 ounces, andeven more preferably 5 plus or minus 3 ounces. Therefore, the design ofthe magnetic member 14 and the ferro-magnetic disk 12c should be such asto fall within these parameters.

The ferro-magnetic disk should be very lightweight so that it will notswing around vigorously as the surgeon walks around the operating tableor operating room. It has been found that a steel disk approximately twoinches in diameter and having a thickness of 0.007" serves well. Themass of such disk is sufficiently low that it does not swing vigorouslywhen unattached to the magnetic strip 14, but its diameter issufficiently large that some part of the disk will be in close proximityto the magnetic strip 14 even if the disk is poorly located on thesurgeon's pant leg. However, other sizes, shapes and thicknesses havebeen used and can be used successfully. In the preferred embodiment, thedisk should weigh approximately 2.5 grams and preferably more than 0.5grams.

In FIG. 1, a single magnetic strip 14 is illustrated. In theillustration of FIG. 1, a third electrical connection is made by apermanently mounted socket receiving a plug or a slideably attached disk18 electrically attached to the magnetic strip 14 and having attachedthereto a third electrical conductor 19 which extends from the magneticdisk or plug 18 into electrical connection with the patient through asuitable connector such as an EKG pad 20. Thus, in the electricalconnection system of FIG. 1, whenever the electrical, conductingmagnetic disk connector 12c is attached to the magnetic strip 14, anelectrical circuit is completable between the monitor M, the surgeon,and the patient through the gloves G if there is a hole or anotheranomaly in the glove.

Referring to FIG. 2, the health care worker such as the surgeon S cantest his or her gloves at any time using the test apparatus B. The testapparatus B includes the glove monitor M mounted with the health careworker S and including the first electrical conductor lead 10 and EKGpatch 11 which electrically attach the monitor M to the health careworker. A second electrical lead 12 extends from the monitor M andterminates in the magnetic disc 12c. The magnetic strip 14 is mountedonto the legs 16a and 16b of a table or stand 16. A sterile basin SBcontaining saline solution is illustrated on the stand 16. The solutionin the sterile basin is electrically attached to the magnetic strip 14through electrical conductor 19', which electrically connects to themagnetic strip 14 and the conductive solution in the basin SB in anysuitable manner. Preferably electrical contact with the conductingsolution is made with a silver-silver chloride electrode attached toconductor 19'. The basin SB contains a sterile conductive fluid such asnormal saline solution such that, if a hole should be present in thegloves G and fills with solution, an electrical circuit through thegloves will be completed utilizing the hardware and software of themonitor M as previously disclosed.

Referring to FIG. 3, two magnetic, electrical conducting strips 14a and14b are utilized in conjunction with an alarm circuit generallydesignated as 20. The alarm circuit 20 is electrically connected to bothmagnetic, electrically conducting strips 14a and 14b through leads 21and 22. In the embodiment of FIG. 3, the third electrical conductor 19extends from electrical connection to one of the magnetic strips 14ainto electrical connection with the patient P as illustrated in FIG. 1.The electrical connection of leads 21-22 and of conductor 19 is onlyshown schematically. It is contemplated that each lead 21-22 and 19 willterminate in a plug which is insertable into a socket in electricalconnection with the strips 14a and 14b as shown in FIG. 3.

The magnetic strips 14a-14b are actually composites strips made up ofseveral layers of strip-like material having different characteristics.Referring to FIG. 3A, first of all, the strip composites 14a and 14b aremounted within a generally U-shaped plastic frame 17. A ferro-magneticstrip generally designated as 17a is mounted within the U-shaped plasticframe 17 and provides the inner-most layer. A first strip 17b offlexible magnetic material is mounted onto the layer 17a in the upperportion of the recess formed by the U-shaped frame 17. A second, lowermagnetic strip 17c is mounted in the lower portion of the recess suchthat the two strips 17b and 17c extend horizontally (FIG. 3) with aspace between them. The flexible magnetic material for the strip 17b and17c is the same as the material described with respect to the magneticstrip 14 in that the strip contains a barium ferrite powder suspended ina rubber or plastic matrix in order to provide an attracting magneticfield. The strip 17b, and thus the composite strip 14a, is magnetized asillustrated in FIG. 3A while the strip 17c, and thus the composite strip14b, has opposite poles as also illustrated in FIG. 3A. Finally, a stripof ferro-magnetic, conducting material, such as steel, and designated as17d is attached to the outer most surface of the magnetic strip 17b.Similarly, a ferro-magnetic, steel strip 17e is attached to the outsidesurface of the magnetic strip 17c. Each of the strips 17d and 17e, whichform the final layer of the composite strips 14a and 14b, respectively,extend slightly beyond the outside flanges of the U-shaped frame member17 so that the disc 12c will be placed directly in contact with thecomposite strips 14a and 14b when the disc 12c is moved sufficientlyclose to the composite strips 14a and 14b. A horizontally extendingplastic spacer 17f, which is T-shaped in the cross-section of FIG. 3,extends the length of the composite strips 14a and 14b to maintainstability and separation between the composite strips.

The alarm circuit 20 of FIG. 3 includes a Motorola 68 HC11microprocessor, which includes RAM and ROM memories and a centralprocessing unit CPU. The Aud. (audible) ALARM is a piezoelectricoscillator (such as International Components Corp. BRT 1209P). Thevisible alarm is a high efficiency light emitting diode (such as theHewlett Packard HLMP 1700).

The CPU outputs current on the positive (+) Port 1 (line 22 in FIG. 3)and senses for a "1" or "0" on the negative port (Port 2) (line 21 inFIG. 2). If disc 12c is in contact with both electrical conductingmagnetic strips 14a and 14b, then a "1" will be sensed. If the disc 12cis not in electrcal contact with both electrically conductive magneticstrips 14a and 14b, then "0" will be sensed and the alarms will beactivated. Referring to FIG. 5, the software is essentially the same forboth alarms 20 and 30.

FIG. 4 illustrates another embodiment 30 which includes RAM and ROMmemories and a central processing unit with AUDIO and VISUAL ALARMS,previously described with respect to alarm 20. Additionally, a surgeprotector known as a transient voltage suppressor (such as the supressormade by Diodes, Inc. 1.5KE12CA) is utilized. The magnetic stripconnector of FIG. 4 again includes a bottom magnetic, electricallyconducting strip 14b; but, the upper strip is actually two stripportions 31a and 31b, which are interconnected by the transient voltagesuppressor 32. The transient voltage suppressor 32 is electricallyconnected into lead 33a, which extends into port 1 of the alarm 30. Port2 of the alarm 30 is electrcally connected by lead 33b to the bottommagnetic, electrical conductor 14b. The lead 19 extends from themagnetic strip portion 31b to the patient P. Should there be any surgevoltage such as from use of a defibrillator, the suppressor will beelectrically open circuited to prevent any dangerous feedback voltagebeing conducted to the health care worker if the health care workerforgets to disconnect himself or herself from the connector duringdefibrillation. As an example, the suppressor may be set to open at 11volts or greater.

FIGS. 6-8

Referring to FIGS. 6-8, another apparatus B is provided for making aquick electrical attachment and detachment. The apparatus B is asubstantially thin, resilient, generally rectangular metallic member 40which is capable of coiling upon itself in the manner illustrated inFIG. 8 or upon an arm, leg, or other appendage of a patient such asillustrated in FIG. 4. The coilable electrical connector 40 of FIGS. 6-8takes the principle of the toy known as a "slap bracelet" and applies itto forming a detachable electrical connector. The member 40 may be astainless spring steel plated with silver and silver chloride on oneside and covered with a porous cloth 41 which may be saturated ormoistened with a sodium chloride solution or other similarchloride-containing conductive gel. The electrical connector 40 isattached to a wire 42 which may be the same wire as wire 12 leading tothe monitor M, as illustrated in FIG. 1, or another wire which extendsinto electrical connection with the monitor M attached to any healthcare worker.

Taking the principle of the toy known as the "slap bracelet," thecoilable member 40 may be easily applied to an arm or leg by gently"slapping" the coilable element against the arm or leg. The resilientstrength of the spring steel maintains the coiled physical connection,such as illustrated in FIG. 7, so that an electrical connection is madethrough the conductive gel. There may be other uses, such as non-sterileusage, where it is desirable to utilize the inherent coilability of thequick connector 40 which allows for easy storage. For example, innon-sterile usage, the coilable electrical connector 40 may be kept inthe pocket of the coat of a health care worker and pulled out andquickly wrapped around an object such as the patient's arm or leg inorder to make a non-sterile electrical connection. The uses of such aconnection extend not only to the medical community but also to otherareas where it may be desirable to make a quick electrical connectionand electrical disconnection around an object about which a coilableelectrical conductor 40 may be mounted. Within the medical environment,the electrical connector of this invention may be utilized with othersuitable electrical equipment.

FIGS. 9-11

Referring now to FIG. 9, an apparatus is provided for electricalconnection of a glove monitor between a sitting health care worker suchas a dentist D-1 and a patient P-1. In the embodiment of FIG. 9, theglove monitor M is attached by any suitable means to the back of adental chair C. The glove monitor M includes the first conductor or lead50 which extends from electrical connection to the glove monitor M toelectrical connection through an EKG patch 51 to the patient P-1. Theglove monitor includes a second electrical conductor 52 which extends toan electrically conductive, magnetic strip 53 attached to the back ofthe dental chair. The magnetic strip 53 is similar to the magneticstrips 14, 14a and 14b except for size and provides a magnetic field toattract a ferro-magnetic disk 54, which is attached at the end ofelectrical conductor 55 which extends into electrical connection bymeans of EKG patch 56 with the dentist D-1. In this manner, the dentistD-1 can easily electrically connect and disconnect to the magneticelectrical connector 53 so that the dentist may move about the room asnecessary to perform tasks. The magnetic strength of the electricallyconductive, magnetic element 53 is similar to that described formagnetic conductors 14, 14a and 14b so that the dentist D-1 can easilydetach from electrical connection by simply pulling away from the chairand thereafter easily reconnect. The embodiment of FIG. 9 is alsoapplicable to the embodiment of FIG. 1 for the operating roomenvironment so that the monitor M would be located on the operatingtable base rather than on the surgeon S.

Referring now to FIGS. 10 and 11, another embodiment for use of theglove monitor M with a patient P-1 is illustrated. In the embodiments ofFIGS. 10 and 11, the glove monitor M is again attached to the back ofthe dental chair C. The electrical lead 52 terminates in electricalconnection to the magnetic electrical connector 53, which detachablyreceives the ferromagnetic disk 54, which is attached to lead 55 whichterminates in EKG patch 56 in electrical connection with the dentistD-1. However, instead of a direct electrical lead from the monitor M tothe patient P-1 as illustrated in FIG. 9, the electrical connection fromthe monitor M to the patient P-1 is made utilizing a disposable salivaejector 60, as illustrated in detail in FIG. 11.

The disposable saliva ejector includes the generally U-shaped salivatube 61 of the type that is in well known use today. However, the firstend of the saliva tube terminates in an electrically conductive ring 62which contacts the inside of the mouth of the patient. A conductive wire63 extends into electrical attachment with ring 62 and an electrical,tubular coupling 64. The electrical coupling 64 is a generally tubularelectrical conductor which includes a first circular recess 64a toreceive the conductor 63 and the saliva tube 61. The other end of theconductor 64 includes a tapered, circular recess 64b adapted to receivea male, annular conductor 65 which is mounted at the end of the vacuumhose 66 which extends to the vacuum connection located on the dentistchair C or elsewhere. A conductor 67 is electrically attached to themale connector 65 and is wrapped around a portion of the vacuum supplytube 66 and extends into electrical connection with the glove monitor M.In this manner, an electrical connection is made automatically by usingthe disposable, electrically conductive saliva ejector, and thus it isunnecessary to actually attach a separate line 51 to the patient as usedin FIG. 9. The saliva ejector 61 may be manufactured of disposablematerials so that a new, sterile ejector may be available for eachpatient.

The various embodiments described herein are usable to provide atemporary, detachable electrical connection between the glove monitor Mand patients, whether located in dental chairs or on operating tables,or elsewhere. It is within the scope of this invention to utilize theprinciples of this invention with various types of health care workersas well as patients located in almost any environment.

Having described the invention above, various modifications of thetechniques, procedures, material and equipment will be apparent to thosein the art. It is intended that all such variations within the scope andspirit of the appended claims be embraced thereby.

What is claimed is:
 1. Apparatus for detachably, electrically connectinga glove monitor to a patient in order to detect holes or other anomaliesin gloves during use, comprising:a glove monitor adapted for electricalattachment to a health care worker, said glove monitor including meansadapted for attachment to said health care worker and including a firstelectrical connection adapted to extend from said glove monitor to saidhealth care worker; an electrically conductive, magnetic element andmeans for attachment of said electrically conductive magnetic element toa patient support member, said electrically conductive, magnetic elementincluding a second electrical connection, said second electricalconnection adapted to extend between said electrically conductive,magnetic element and a patient; said glove monitor having a detachableelectrical lead extending therefrom, said detachable electrical leadincluding an electrical conductor having a first end for connection tosaid glove monitor and a second end terminating in a detachableferro-magnetic element, said detachable ferromagnetic element beingelectrically connectable to and detachable from said electricallyconductive, magnetic element attached to said patient support memberwhereby a health care worker is able to electrically connect said glovemonitor to said patient and electrically detach said glove monitor fromsaid patient as necessary.
 2. Apparatus of claim 1, furtherincluding:said electrically conductive, magnetic element being agenerally elongated strip of magnetic material including an electricallyconductive portion for attachment to said patient support member; and,said second electrical connection including a second electricalconductor having a first end electrically attached to said magneticstrip and a second end terminating in an electrically conductive elementadapted for attachment to said patient.
 3. Apparatus of claim 1, furtherincluding:said electrically conductive magnetic element being formed ofat least two generally elongated strips of magnetic material havingelectrically conductive portions for attachment to said patient supportmember, said elongated strips being attachable in adjacent, parallelrelationship; and said second electrical connection including a secondelectrical conductor having a first end electrically attached to saidelectrically conductive portions of the at least two generally elongatedstrips of magnetic material and a second end terminating in anelectrically conductive element adapted for attachment to said patient.4. Apparatus of claim 3, including:said detachable ferro-magneticelement being of sufficient size to electrically attach to both of saidelectrically conductive portions of said magnetic strips simultaneously.5. Apparatus of claim 1, including:said electrically conductive magneticelement having a magnetic attraction, said magnetic attraction of saidelectrically conductive, magnetic element being sufficiently strong todraw said detachable ferro-magnetic element into electrical connectionwhenever said detachable ferromagnetic element is in close proximity tosaid electrically conductive magnetic element.
 6. Apparatus of claim 1,including:said electrical conductor of said detachable electrical leadhaving a coiled portion such that said attachment of said second enddetachable ferro-magnetic element to said electrically conductive,magnetic element attached to said patient support member is yieldable toallow said health care worker freedom of movement while maintainingelectrical connection between said detachable ferro-magnetic element andsaid magnetic element.
 7. Apparatus of claim 1, including:an alarmcircuit in electronic communication with said electrically conductivemagnetic element and including alarm means to sound an alarm wheneversaid detachable ferro-magnetic element is separated from attachment tosaid electrically conductive magnetic element.
 8. Apparatus of claim 7,wherein:said alarm means includes signal means indicating whenever saiddetachable ferromagnetic element is detached from said electricallyconductive magnetic element.
 9. Apparatus of claim 8, including:saidalarm means including means for suppressing any undesirable voltagesurge from said lead extending to said patient.
 10. Apparatus fordetachably, electrically connecting a glove monitor to a patientsupported on a patient support structure in order to detect holes orother anomalies in gloves during use, comprising:a glove monitor; saidglove monitor including an electrical circuit which is adapted to extendin one direction between the patient and the health care worker, saidelectrical circuit including a detachable electrical connection, saiddetachable electrical connection including an electrical lead includinga conductor which terminates in a detachable ferro-magnetic element, anda stationary, electrically conductive magnetic element adapted to bemounted on said patient support structure, said detachableferro-magnetic element being electrically connectable and detachablefrom said stationary electrically conductive magnetic element wherebyelectrical connection between said health care worker and said patientis detachable and reattachable when said ferro-magnetic element isplaced in close proximity to said electrically conductive stationarymagnetic element.